The Wizarding Afterlife

The Other Side of The World

*J.K. Rowling owns all of the characters.*

TONKS'S FREEZING HAND WAS clasped tightly in his. She didn't seem to be breathing anymore. Remus swallowed hard, looking away. His wife was dead; and though he wanted to cry, his body was too exhausted to even produce tears. He was next. He could feel it.

People ran from the doors, their footsteps echoing on the pavement. Wizards and witches shouted directions to each other, and those equipped to fight were instructed to leave the hall.

Only few came back alive.

"Moony, glad to see you!" James exclaimed, laughing.

"Remus!" Lily called. "Remus, over here!"

"Come with us!" Sirius added, joining in their laughter. "We're going somewhere!"

These voices were on repeat inside his head. He didn't know when it started, or how it came to be. Remus only knew they tempted him even further. There was no clear path to recovery. At least not anymore, with his friends and wife dead, him being the only Marauder left alive.

But not for long.

Dolohov's curse was eating up his body, soaring up, up, up as the pain dulled to a throb. He didn't know you could think about life while waiting for a curse to work. It ought to have killed him in a snap. At least, that's what he was really expecting.

Teddy—was he fine?

Remus imagined his little boy in the cradle, sleeping as Andromeda watched him. This death would not be meaningless. It would be for his son, that he may live in a better world someday. And experience a life less tragic than his.

The voices in his head were getting stronger now. They wanted him to step a bit closer, so he did. Finally, Remus closed his eyes, yielding to their request. His time was up.

"Good bye." he whispered to the air.

Remus heaved his last breath and smiled. He welcomed Death with open arms.

**~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~**

SWIRLING MIST CURLED around Remus's feet. It soared higher, blocking his vision. He swat it away. There was light ahead of him, and he intended to follow it. A beat-up wooden bridge led to that brightness, and Remus gulped, realizing what he had to do—cross it.

The bridge released a low groan as he stepped forward, looking left and right. Where was Tonks? Remus thought they would meet here, in what he assumed was the afterlife, but that hadn't been the case. The flashbacks were starting now—much to his displeasure.

FLASH.

He was munching a chocolate bar.

11-year-old Remus Lupin looked around, in awe of what he was seeing. Platform 9 3/4 was a huge place, with people rushing to and from the station. He had never been here before.

Exhaling, Remus pushed his trolley and aimed for the platform gap. Apart from being excited, he was nervous, too. Who would want to be friends with him—a werewolf, a potential danger to others?

But he had to try.

"Hello!" a wizard greeted, startling him. "You seem lost. I'm Sirius Black," the lad shook his hand. "You could use a friend, er..."

"Remus." Remus replied, smiling. "Remus Lupin."

"Ah," Sirius grinned. "Well, it's wonderful to meet you, Remus. I'm going to get my friend over there—James. He's, uh, rather preoccupied with an auburn-haired girl..." Sirius squinted, shaking his head. "Anyway, would you like to come?"